Australian news and politics live: Ley says PM ‘distracted’ by Palestinian recognition, Australians need him

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia is joining the international community in a unified effort to end the ongoing cycle of violence in the Gaza conflict.

He said while Australia plans to recognise Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly in September, it was crucial Israel’s security and prosperity are assured alongside the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people.

“What the international community are doing is moving forward as one, with a common voice that says we must end the cycle of violence.

“The way to end the cycle of violence is to ensure that Israel can continue to exist, in security, in safety, with prosperity, and for the legitimate aims of the Palestinian people to be realised.

“People are watching what is happening in Gaza. They’re watching it playing out. The catastrophe for humanity that is being played out there.

“What we can do is to add our voice to those who are saying ‘enough is enough’. We need to advance the long-term peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.”

When asked about potential diplomatic fallout with the United States over Australia’s decision to recognise Palestine, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese noted Donald Trump’s global influence and push for peace but said he was firm in joining the international momentum.

“President Trump has been an advocate for peace in the Middle East and, indeed, is characterised by being an advocate for peace around the world,” the PM said, in response to a Brisbane journalist’s question on Wednesday.

“This is an opportunity that the international community are saying, very clearly ‘Enough is enough’.

“The whole world, and indeed Australia, has been committed to bipartisan support for a two-state solution for a long period of time.

“One of those states is Israel, the other is Palestine.

“In order for Palestinians to be able to satisfy their legitimate aspirations for their own state, Israel must be assured of security as well, and that is what the world is working.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended his Government’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state, saying he’s buoyed by assurances from the Arab League that Hamas will not be involved in future governance.

Peppered with questions during a press conference in Brisbane on Wednesday, the PM said the international community has also firmly stated that Hamas will have no role in any future Palestinian state.

“The Arab League has made it very clear that Hamas must lay down its weapons,” he said.

“The Arab League, the countries around the region, as well as the international community, have made it very clear: Hamas has no role. No role.

“The international community has made it very clear that Hamas will have no role in a future Palestinian state.”

It comes as the Opposition has criticised the Prime Minister for effectively rewarding the terrorist group by granting unconditional recognition without ensuring all necessary conditions were met beforehand.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has spruiked his cheaper home battery program saying 28,000 households have now taken up the cost of living measure he first announced during the election.

During a visit to Brisbane on Wednesday alongside Energy Minister Chris Bowen the pair spoke in a Sunshine Coast home equipped with solar power and the battery system.

“It’s fantastic to be here on this beautiful Queensland day. And it’s not surprising that Queensland has the largest number of solar roofs anywhere in Australia,” he said.

“It’s good, not just for the 28,000 households who’ve chosen to take up this 30 per cent rebate since July 1, in a matter of just weeks. It’s good for the grid as well. It’s good for everyone.

“What it does is take pressure off the grid during peak times. This is such good public policy.”

Australia’s Wage Price Index has fallen from 0.8 per cent from 0.9 per cent, slightly below market expectations.

In the year to the June 2025 quarter, wages increased by 3.4 per cent overall.

Private sector wages rose 0.8 per cent, accounting for the majority of the total wage growth, while public sector wages rose 1.0pc.

The main industries driving wage increases this quarter were professional, scientific and technical services, and public administration and safety.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says US President Donald Trump has a “critical role to play” in easing tensions in the Middle East and that Israel’s actions in Gaza are “completely unacceptable.”

While stopping short of accusing Israel of committing war crimes, Mr Albanese said the country had acted in breach of international law.

“President Trump and the United States, of course, will make their own decisions,” he told ABC Radio National.

“One of the things that has defined President Trump’s position internationally on global affairs is that he is an advocate for peace, and he’s been an advocate for peace in the Middle East for a long period of time.”

Mr Albanese wouldn’t label the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as a war crime but said Israel’s actions were “quite contrary to international law.”

Israel limiting humanitarian aid into Gaza goes against international law and is an “affront to common decency”, the Prime Minister says.

Australia is among 29 countries that issued a joint statement overnight calling for urgent action by Israel to allow aid to enter Gaza.

“The humanitarian suffering in Gaza has reached unimaginable levels. Famine is unfolding before our eyes,” the statement said.

“Humanitarian space must be protected and aid should never be politicised.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Israel’s actions in blocking aid to the region was “not defensible”.

“It’s certainly not something that’s consistent with international law,” he told ABC radio on Wednesday.

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has dismissed Australia’s plan to recognise a Palestinian state at the UN next month as “symbolic” and “largely meaningless,” saying such moves are driven by domestic politics and won’t determine the region’s future.

Mr Rubio said real change depends on actions and developments within the region itself, rather than external declarations or diplomatic gestures from Australia or other Western countries.

“It’s largely meaningless, right?” Mr Rubio said in an interview with WABC radio overnight.

“It’s symbolic, and they’re doing it primarily for one reason, and that is their internal politics, their domestic politics.

“The truth of the matter is that the future of that region is not going to be decided by some UN resolution. It’s not going to be decided by some press release by a prime minister or a president from some country.

“It’s going to be decided on the ground. It’s going to be decided by: when will the day come when Palestinian areas are not governed by terrorist organisations? Because that’s truly what this comes down to, and that is the security of Israel.”

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The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) will present a proposal advocating for reduced working hours, including a four-day work week, at next week’s Economic Reform Roundtable in Canberra.

This initiative aims to ensure Australians gain from productivity improvements and technological advances, and say it’s “key to lifting living standards”.

Unions argue that a shorter working week is essential for improving employees’ quality of life. They stress that such a reduction should not come with any loss of pay or conditions, with protections covering penalty rates, overtime, and minimum staffing levels.

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The domestic terminal at Sydney Airport was placed into lockdown after a man reportedly attempted to take a weapon from an Australian Federal Police officer.

The Australian Federal Police has confirmed an incident took place on Wednesday morning.

“The AFP can confirm a man has been arrested at Sydney Airport this morning, after a police firearm was discharged inside the terminal,” an AFP spokesperson said.

It is understood that witnesses said they heard a loud bang around the same time, according to 2GB.

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